Plumbing fixture



May 8,y 1 928.

F. J. c/lmn-Rl-:LLl

PLUMBING FIXTURE Filed April 1s, 1925 197135541.

INVNToR. fam/W. /ammw ATToR EYS Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE. y

FRANK J. CANTRELL, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PLUMBING FIXTURE.

Application led April 13,

from the turnout will pass through the fixture before discharging fromthe shower head. The fixture is provided with two water passages andwith a' valve whereby the water may be directed therethrough. Onepassage is provided with a revolving soap-receptacle sothat soapsudswill be formed and discharged by the shower head, when water is passedtherethrough, and clear water will bedischarged when directed throughthe other passage.

The present invention is particularly directed to means for moreefiiciently forming soapsuds, and it consists in placing a brush in thefixture, a water-wheel to rot-ate the same, means for supporting thecake of soap in engagement with the brush, means permitting movement ofthe brush as the soap wears away, and means for admitting air to furtherpromotev the formation of soapsuds.

One form which my Vinvention may assume is exemplified yin theaccompanying drawings, in which p Fig. 1 is a side elevation of thefixture; and

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of a section" thereof. t

Referring to the drawingsv in detail, particularly Fig. 1, A indicatesacasing which' is adapted to be interposed between the standard form ofshower head such asindicated at B and the plumbing or piping of abathroom'. Thefxture `is provided with a two-way valve generallyindicated at 3, the valve being `provided with an inlet connection 4 anda pair of discharge connections indicated at 5 and 6. Formed within thecasing is a chamber generally indicated at C. Mounted interiorly thereofis a receptacle 7 wherebya cakeY of soap such as indicatedA at 8 may besupported. Disposed above the cake ofsoapis a brush 9, and adapted torotate the same is a Water-wheel 10. The brush is secured upon the shaft11 `and so Vthe wheel, and thus rotates the same.

1925. Serial No. 22,662.

is the waterswheel 10. The shaft is jour` `nalled 1n theverticallydisposed bearing 12 forming a part of the cover 13 of the casing. Theshaft- 10, together with the water-wheel and the brush carried thereby,is vertically movable in the bearing 117 and constant engagement maythus be maintained between the brush and the cake of soap as it wearsaway; A small passage is formed in the upperend of the bearing, asindicated at 13?. Water under pressure enters throu h this passage andequalizes the pressure at t e opposite ends of the shaft and the brushthus maintains engagement and proper con tact between thc brush and thesoa The discharge pipe 5 is positioned in alignment with theWatcr-ivlieel l() and terminates n a `nozzle such as shown at 14, andthe water ,lischarging impinges against the blades of In actualoperation it has been foundthat the admission of` a small amount of airmaterially increases the formation of soapsuds, audin view thereof`means `are provided `for admittingl air.` This is accomplished byforming a venturi passage in the pipe 5 as indicated at 15, andconnecting an air inlet pipe 16 therewith. This pipe has a check valveformed therein as indicated at 17, said valve merely serving thefunction of preventing' Water from dischar ing through the pipe 16 ifback pressure s ould occur. The amount of water passing through theventuri passageand the pipe 5 is regulated by a needle valve 18. It mayalso be regulated to more or less extent by the main valve 3. An.`auxiliary container opposite the discharge pipeis iudicatedrat 19. Thiscontainer may be iilled with a perfume, a disinfectant, or any othersuitable liquid. The

container is connected with the air inlet tube -16 by `means of a pipe20.' The amount of perfumefforz.disinfectant admitted may be controlledby a valve 21. The main casing A is provided with a front window such asshown at 25.I `It is also provided with a pair of side windows, asindicatedat 26. These windows are somewhat similar in construction tothe ortholes in a ship-that is, they are hingeduy` supported as Vat 27,and are secured when in closed position by locking means such asindicated at 28.l A watertight jointis formed between the ends of thewindows 26 andV they casing, and danger of s will become thoroughlleakage is thereby obviated. The hinged mounting of these windowspermits access to the interior of the casing so that new pieces of soapmay be placed therein from time to time as they are worn away orconsumed. The main casing is provided with a double bottom as indicatedat 8O and 3l. A central passage 32 is formed between the bottomsections. This passage communicates with the central chamber C at, thepoint indicated at 33 and 34, and it also communicates with thedischargepipe. A discharge pipe( isV formed. at the lower end of thecasing as at 37, and the shower head or other fixture indicated at B isattached thereto. The operation will be as follows:

lVhen a person is taking a bath in a shower bath it is only necessary toturn the valve 3v to position so that all the water will pass throughthe pipe 6 and discharge through the shower head, so that the personrinsed. The valve 3 is next turned to position where the waterdischarges through the pipe 5. The water thus directed will impingeagainst the waterwheel and cause this, together with 'the brush, torotate at high speed. Air will be introduced at the same time, and theair, together with the action of the brush, will produce foamingsoapsuds which will then enter the shower head through the open ings 83and 34. The person taking a bath will thus become covered withsuds andwill scrub lor wash himself or herself in the usual manner, and when thewashing operation is completed it is only necessary to reverse theposition of the valve 3 so that clear rinsing water will be obtained. Ifit is desired to perfume the water slightly, it is accomplished byslightly opening the valve 2l; and

if` aA disinfectant is desired, it is accomplished by the same means.

The apparatus or fixture is exceedingly practical, convenient, easy tooperate, and above all it is sanitary; and it obviatcs the necessity ofhandling soap, disinfectant, or any other cleansing medium required intak.- ing a bath. It also does away with soap receptacles and otherdevices, and the necessity of cleaning the same fromtime to time.Soapsuds of any richnessor consistency desired may be obtained bymerelyregulating the position of the needle valve 18. Econo1nical use of thesoap employed is obtained, as every particle thereof is worn down by thebrush, due to the fact that it held against the soap by ressure, andalso due to the Vfact that it is orced down against the soap as it wearsaway.

While certain features of the present inventionl are more or lessspecifically explained, I wish itv understood that various changes maybe made within the scope of the appended claims; similarly, that thematerials and finish of the` several parts employed may be such as theexperience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent isl. A fixture of the character described comprising acasing having a pair of chambersformed therein; to wit, an upper chamberanda lower chamber, said chambers being in communication, with eachother and the lower chamber having a discharge pas sage formed therein,ya valve: adapted to be connected with a source of water supply underpressure, a pair of pipes connected with the valve, one connected withthe upper chamber and one with the lower chamber, said valve adapted todirect the, water to either of the said pipes, a water wheel inthe'upper chamber, a vertically movable shaft support-ing said wheel, astationary receptacle below the shaft for a cake of soap, andY a brushsecured to the shaft and engageableV with the soap and adapted to settleby gravity with the shaft against the soap as the soap wears away. i A

.2.'A fixture of the character described comprising a casing having apair of chambers formed therein; to Wit, an upper chamber and a lowerchamber, said chambers beingfin communication with each other and thelower chamber having a. discharge passage formed therein, a valveadapted to be connected with a source of water supply un'A der pressure,a. pair of pipes connected with the valve, one connected with the upperchamber and one with the lower.l chamber, said valve adapted to directthe. waterA to either of the said pipes, a venturi passage formed in'the pipe which is connected with theupper chamber, means for admittingair to said venturi passage, a water wheel with in the upper chamber, avertically movable shaft carrying said wheel, a brush secured. on saidshaft, means permitting end'wise movement of the shaft and the brush,means for equalizing pressure at opposite ends'of the shaft to permitthe shaft and brush to settle by gravity against a cake of soap andmeansfor.supporting a cake ofV soap at a point below the end of thebrush. v 3. A fixture of the character described comprising a, casinghaving a pair of cham bers formed therein; towit, an upper chamber and alower chamber, said chambers being in rcommunication with each other andtheV lower chamber having a discharge passage formed therein, a valveadapted' to be connected with the source of water supply under pressure,a pair of pipes connected' with the valve, one connected with the Yupperchamber and one with the lower-chamber, said valve adapted to direct thewater to either'of thesaid pipes, a container con-f nected with the pipewhich is connected with the upper chamber, said container adaptedrLemmon i 3 to contain a liquid perfume or the like, a. movement of saidwheel and shaft, a. brush valve between the container and the pipe tosecured to lower end of said shaft, means for regulate the flow ofperfume to the pipe, a, supporting a cake of soap below the brush, WaterWheel journalled Within the upper and a closure for the upper chamberthrough chamber and in alignment with said pipe, a which yam cake ofSoap may be inserted or revertieally disposed shaft to Whioh'the Watermoved.

Wheel is secured, means permitting vertical FRANK J. CANTRELL.

